Sidestep These Moving Disasters in 2020: Part 1

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

However, when something goes horribly wrong on moving day, it's easy to feel like your world is coming to an end. Instead of suffering through such a calamity, it's so much better to plan for all contingencies.

Here are several common moving day disasters, and how you can avoid them:

Your Furniture Doesn't Fit

After traveling for hours and hours, you finally arrive at your new residence... only to find that you can't push the sofa through the front door. That would be a major letdown, and a huge source of stress.

Solution: Measure your big pieces of furniture for all their dimensions. Be sure to compare what you write down with the dimensions of your new home, as well as your new home's entrances.

Your Travel Arrangements Fall Through

If you wait until the last minute to make travel arrangements (like hotel reservations for long distance moves, or plans for a friend or two to help you transport your belongings) then it's all too likely that they'll fall through, and you'll be left scrambling.

Solution: Try to plan out your travel arrangements at least a month in advance. Set reminders for yourself if you must.

Items are Damaged in Transit

It can be one of life's most disheartening experiences to finally arrive at your new residence, open the moving truck's gate... and find that many of your valued possessions have been reduced to broken pieces scattered throughout the compartment.

Solution: In most cases, improper packing techniques are the root cause of damage incurred in transit. Use appropriate containers and boxes for each fragile item that you're bringing. Be sure to use plenty of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or whatever else is needed to secure and cushion your valuables during the move. Or, you can always ask your professional mover for help packing items. Most moving companies will pack as much or as little as you need.

You End Up Paying More than You Expected

A few days before the move, you find out that your bank account is going to take a bigger hit than you originally thought. The moving company is charging you a higher rate for their assistance.

Solution: Many moving companies do charge higher rates for "last minute service." To obtain the best rates, don't procrastinate: reserve your spot as far in advance as possible and always get a written quote from the moving company you select.

In Part 2 of our Moving Disasters blog posts, we will discuss more issues that can throw a wrench into your moving plans and how to avoid such problems. Stay tuned!